Grave-platform



(No Model.) B- P' WALKER' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

GRAVE PLATFORM.

No. 587,888. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.v

B. P. WALKER.

GRAVE PLATFORM. No. 587,888. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

BENJAMIN P. WALKER, OF THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA.

G RAVE-PLATFO RM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,888, dated August 10, 1897. Application tied July 8,1896. Striano. 598,424. (Nomtaei.)

T0 ctZZ whom, it Wtcty concern,.-

Be t'known that L'BENJAMIN P. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thomasville, in the county of Thomas and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Grave-Platform, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a grave-platform or casket-support, and has for its object'to provide simple and efficient means for supporting a casket or coffin over a grave-opening preparatory to lowering the same thereinto, and designed to facilitate such preparatory disposal of the casket or coffin to avoid the inconvenience and strain upon the pallbearers caused by arranging the casket or coffin upon the supporting-bars usually employed for this purpose; and, furthermore, to provide simple and efficient means for lowering the casket or coffin into the grave.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof willbe particularly pointed out in the appended claims;

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a platform and casket-lowering devicesconstructed in accordance with my invention applied in the operative position to a grave. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the casket or con elevated and the platformsections removed to allow the lowering thereof. Eig. 3 is a transverse section showing the casket in the elevated position illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the supporting and guide frame in its folded position. Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the platformsections.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The supporting or guide frame l is preferably of sectional construction, with the sections l lb hinged together at the contiguous extremities of their end bars and adapted to be secured in its operative position by means of anchor-pins 2, and the side bars of the frame are rabbeted to form seats or guides 3, which are flush with the upper surfaces of the end bars, whereby the platform proper, which is supported upon said guides, is flush with the upper surfaces of the side bars and may be drawn longitudinally from the same over the end bars. This platform is preferably of sectional construction, with its members 4? 4b arranged contiguous to each other at their inner ends and adapted to be independently removed in opposite directions from the supporting-frame. Y

' In the construction illustrated in the drawings the platform members are of slatted construction, with the slats secured together by meansv of flexible connections, as cables 5, threaded through registering openings near the extremities of the slats and looped at the outer ends of the platform members, as shown at G, to form handles or grips whereby the platform members may be withdrawn from. the frame. The coffin-lowering devices consist of straps 7, which extend transversely across the frame and through pivotal or hinged guide-blocks S, mounted upon the side bars of the supporting-frame and normally arranged to extend inwardly toward the center of the opening in the frame, as illustrated in Fig. l, with their lower sides vresting upon the upper surface of the frame. These guide-blocks are provided with keepers 9 and contiguous rounded friction-surfaces l0, said friction-surfaces being arranged at the extreme inner ends of the blocks, while the -keepers are disposed out side of and contiguous thereto.

The parts of the device being arranged in the positions above described, the casket or coffin is arranged upon the platform with the lowering-straps extending thereunder, the pall-bearers being enabled to walk over the platform in the act of placing the casket as described. W hen it is desired to lower the casket, the extremities of the straps are grasped and tightened to lift the weight of the latter and at the same time swing the blocks upwardly toward their inner ends, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby relieving the platform of the weight of the casket and allowing the platform-sections tobe drawn longitudinally from the supportingframe, a's shown in Fig. 2. The stra-ps may then be slackened to lower the casket.

The device embodying my invention avoids the necessity of violent exertion upon the part of pall-bearers or assistants in arranging the casket in the proper position over the IOO . grave-opening, as when the casket is supportgrave-openin g without altering their positions with relation to the casket, and after reaching the desired position the casket may be loweredlupon the platform and arranged as desired Without risk of accident.

A further advantage of the above-described construction resides in the fact that the platform conceals the grave-opening until the moment of lowering the casket has arrived,

thereby detracting materially from the repulsive appearance of a grave which is sunk vertically into the earth.

From the above description it will be understood that while t'he platform members are preferably of slatted construction in order to provide for the rolling thereof when not in use, it is not indispensable, inasmuch as they may be inflexible and consist of slides fitted into the guides of the supportin g-f rame. When not in use, the supporting-frame may be folded, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. A coffin-support having an open frame through which a coffin is adapted to be lowered, and a platform fitted upon and horizontally supported by the frame to form a continuous horizontallyremovable support adapted to be traversed by pall-bearers in placing a coffin thereon, substantially as specified.

2. A coffin-support having an open frame, and a sectional platform fitted upon and horizontally supported by the frame to form a continuous support adapted to be traversed by pall-bearers, the sections of the platform being divided upon a transverse line for end- Wise horizontal removal at opposite extremities of the frame, substantially as specied.

3. A coffin-support having an open frame, coffin-lowering devices mounted upon the frame, and a platform lifted upon and horizontally supported by the frame to form a continuous longitudinally-removable support adapted to be traversed by pall-bearers, the coflin-lowering devices being adapted to support a coffin above and out of contact with the platform during the removal ofthe latter preparatory to lowering the coliin through the opening of the frame, substantially as specified.

coffin lowering devices including straps mounted in guides at the opposite sides of the frame and extending transversely across the opening, and ahorizontally longitudinally removable platform fitted upon the frame to form a continuous support adapted to be traversed by pall-bearers, said lowering devices being adapted to sustain the Weight of a coffin during the removal of the platform preparatory to lowering the coin through the frame, substantially as specified.

5. A coffin-support having an open frame provided with side guides, and a sectional platform fitted at its side edges in said guides,

the platform-sections being adapted to be removed at opposite ends of the frame, substantially as specified.

6. A coffin-support having an open frame, and a sectional platform fitted in guides on the frame, each section of the platform being of flexible slatted construction, substantially as specified.

7. A coffin-support having an open frame, and flexible platform-sections fitted in guides on said frame and each consisting of slats and a iexible connection, or cable, looped at the outer end of the section to form a handle or grip, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with an open frame and a removable coin-supporting platform arranged therein, of coiiin-lowering devices including guide-blocks hinged at their outer extremities to the frame and provided with keepers -through which the coin-lowering straps extend, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with a supporting-flame and a removable platform fitted therein, of cofIin-lowering devices including verticallymovable guide-blocks having keepers for the reception of the coffin-lowering straps, and adapted to yield upwardly when said straps are strained to remove the Weight of a coffin from the platform, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afXed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMIN P. WALKER.

Witnesses:

B. H. VRIGHT, ALBERT A. RILEY.

4:. A coffin-support having an open frame, l 

